Combined hanger and guard for pulleys



C. STEENSTRUP. COMBINED HANGER AND GUARD FOR PULLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. I919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

ill/III,

UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN STEENS'IRUP, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

COMBINED HANGER AND GUARD FOR PULLEYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 161, 1920.

Application filed January 9, 1919. Serial-No. 270,398.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .CHms'rrAN S'rnnN- STRUP, a citizen of the United States,.residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Hangers and Guards for Pulleys, of which the following is a. SPGClfiCdlZlOIlu The present invention relates to combined hangers and guards for pulleys and has for its object to improve their construction whereby their strength is increased and their weight and cost decreased and their liability to injury from various causes reduced to a minimum. 1

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a pulley; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an axial section of the same; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how the guard and hanger are mutually interlocked; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts forming the axle or spindle; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the rim showing the dovetail connection between it and one of the spokes; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of said connection, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of a tenon on the end of a spoke.

10 indicates the wheel rim which is made of relatively thin sheet metal such as steel, for example.

The spokes 11 of which there are eight in all, arranged in pairs, are all exactly alike so a single die or set of dies may be used in producing them. The stock for the spokes is also in the form of relatively thin, narrow strips. After leaving the die each double spoke or spoke member has the bent form shown in Fig. 3 and extends across the rim from side'to side. As before stated there are ei ht spokes but they are composed of half that number of pieces. To increase their strength they may be ribbed 'as indirated at 12. Each end of each spoke has a shoulder 13 and a tenon 14. The shoulder engages the rim when the parts are assembled and takes that load which puts the spoke in compression. It will be noted that each tenon has two prongs or projections 15 so that when the metal is riveted or upset after the tenon is inserted in the rim they will spread laterally as indicated at 16 in this seemingly simple expedient there is obtained a means first for locking the parts of the run at the joint and second, a means for securing the rim rigidly to the spokes. In practice it is best to simultaneously upset the tenons of all of the spokes since this avoids distortion of the rim and saves" operations.

In actual practice it is found that when the parts are subjected to heavy pressure in the upsetting operation the metal in the rim lmmediately surroundingthe edges of the tenons and prongs is caused to flow. In other words, the notch or slot which originally had straight, parallel walls is enlarged at the ends more than in the middle and takes the general form indicated at 16 in Fig. 2. the walls of the notch or slot to yield slightly at their outer edges as indicated at 17 in Figs. 6 and 7. The net result of this is that the outer end of the tenon is made larger than it is at the shoulder 13 so that it will resist strains tending to separate the joint in the rim and also the tendency of the rim to pull away from the spokes when the latter are put in tension as they will be when pressure is applied to the rim at a diametrically opposite point. The amount of stock in the tenons 14 and prongs 15 should be carefully determined so that when the final pressure is applied the outer ends of the tenons will be flush with the surface of the rim. This is important where a smooth surface is essential to good operation.

The spokes alsoform a part of the. hub structure, thereby simplifying the construction, and to this end each spoke member extends across the rim and is provided with a small hole midway between its ends, the axis of which coincides with axis of the finished wheel. To hold the spokes the desired distance apart at the center a sleeve or spacer 19 is provided which can be made of tubing but which is preferably made of thin sheet metal formed in a die to tubular form as shown in Fig. 5, because it is cheaper and is more easily obtained. 7

Assuming that the spokes are assembled Also that said pressure causes tening the hub parts together. The bearing 20 may be made of tubular material but since sheet stock is always cheaper it is preferable to use the latter and to form it into tubular form by a suitable die. Although it has a joint when made in this manner it cannot expand appreciably on account of the surrounding spacer 19. In assembling the spacer and bearing the two joints should be angularly displaced as distinguished from being alined so as to prevent any tendency of the bearing to enlarge. The ends of the bearing have slots 01' notches 21 so as to make it easier to upset or rivet over the ends to hold the spokes and spacer in place. The ends of the bearing also serve collars or spacing devices to center the wheel and prevent the rim from rubbing on the guard and hanger. Inside of the bearing is located the axle or spindle 22 of the wheel.

Referring now to the guard 25, this is also made of sheet metal strips cut into suitable lengths having the necessary width. The stock is subjected to the action of a die to form the flanges 26 on opposite sides, said flanges materially adding to the strength of the piece. The flanges on one end of the strip are omitted at 27, as shown in Fig. 4, to receive one end of the hanger 28. One

flange is also omitted for a short distance on the other end of the strip. It is to be noted that the width of the head or anchor 29 of the hanger is slightly greater than the length of the cut away portion of the flange.

As a result of this when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1, said head engages both flanges on each end of the strip forming the guard and not only assists in locking the joint in the guard but said flanges and head form an anchoring means for the hanger. One of the flanges 26 on the opposite side of the guard for a short distance is also omitted or cut away to receive the head on the other leg of the hanger. The anchoring means on the back side of the guard has the same construction as that on the front side shown in 1.

As before stated, the guard is made in one straight, flat piece having the necessary flanges and holes. After it is properly formed it is bent by suitable means to inclose the wheel and then has two flat sides extending parallel to each other and connected by curved ends 30. The joint at the ends of the strip is formed as shown in Fig. 4:. That is to say one of the ends is offset at 31 by an amount equal to the thickness of the stock and overlies the other end. It is just wide enough to snugly fit between the flanges 26 which serve as means additional.

side members of the guard resting on the shoulders 23 of the pivot. By making the joint in the guard as shown it is very strong and by locating it at the axis of the wheel I am able to take advantage of the spindle 22 as a riveting or securing means and thus avoid the use of additional parts and save in the cost of construction.

The hanger 28 is also made out of a strip of sheet stock. Its width when flat and before the side flanges are formed is equal to the width of the anchoring head 29. In this manner all waste of stock in the form of trimmings is avoided. Furthermore the same width of stock is used for this mem her as for the guard which is a substantial advantage both in reduced cost and convenience of manufacture. The portion forming the anchor is also offset by such an amount that when the parts are united the side members of the guard and hanger occupy parallel planes. By suitable dies the side flanges 33 are formed which greatly add to the strength and stiffness of the part. At the same timethe reinforcing ribs 34, Fig. 1, at each end are formed which stiffen the structure where the parts are united, said ribs adding very materially to the strength of the hanger, especially at the joints. The strip is then bent into the form of a U, the legs of which are connected by the curved portion 35. Afterv this operation the hanger is slipped into place on the guard and over the spindle 22 and the end thereof upset by heavy end pressure or by a hammer. The hanger is usually supported by a hook or other fixed metal support and since it would tend in use to wear the hanger, or possibly bend it, a wearing and reinforcing plate 36 also of sheet metal but somewhat thicker than the other parts is provided and located at the bend in the hanger where the strain comes. This is held in place by a small tenon 37 which enters a hole in the hanger and is riveted over. This plate may be mounted in place either before or after the hanger is assembled in lace. It is evident that this reinforcing means can be made in a variety of ways, the objects being to reduce wear on the hanger itself and to prevent the end from collapsing or breaking, and to insure a straight pull on the side members of the hanger.

My improved construction has the advantage of great si mplicity.- All of the parts except the very small parts 19, 20, 22 and 36 are made from sheet metal of identical thickness. This reduces to a minimum the attention necessary to keep track of the acter.

stock. Further it enables me to use a ood grade of material and yet sell the article at a low price because practically no material is wasted. Since all the parts except spindle 22 are made by dies of one character or another, skilled labor is not required either in the manufacture of the parts or in their as sembly. No machine or fitting work is necessary on any of the parts except the spindle 22 which is a screw machine job of the simplest character. By actual test I have ascertained that the pulley will stand up under heavy loads without injur of any char- It is very light for its size which means reduced charges for transportation and it will not break as cast metal would if roughly handled. The rim, due to its shape, is naturally one of great strength, and by using rather Wide, flat spokes which also form a part of the hub structure and connecting them to the rim as described, the

. benefit of compression on one side of the also to be noted that the flanges on the guard axis and tension on the other is obtained. By arranging the spokes in pairs and widely separating the hub portions thereof, the wheel is very stifl? against buckling. It is serve a triple purpose, first, to stiffen the guard, second, to hold the overlapping ends of the guard and third to engage and lock the anchoring pieces on the ends of the hanger.

Attention is directed to the fact that the outer edge of the head is straight and engages oneof the flanges 26 of the guard, as best shown in Fig. 1. The opposite side of the head engages the flange 26 on the other side of the guard. This arrangement with the spindle 22 forms an effective means for preventing relative angular movement of the guard and hanger and also rigidly unites the parts. The ends of the hanger where they engage the guard are slightly offset so as to bring the parts of the guard and hanger in the same planes. A very heavy pull on the hanger would tend to straighten out one or both of these ofi'sets but this is effectively prevented by the use of the relatively long ribs 34 which are arch shaped in cross-section. They also serve to stiffen the parts as a whole so that the wheel is prevented from rubbing on the hanger when in use.

The specific construction of the Wheel is not claimed herein. because it forms the subject matter of my divisional application Serial No. 355,690, filed February 2nd, 1920, which division was made at the requirement of the United States Patent Office.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by othermeans.

What I claim as new and desire to secure strip overlapping, the flanges on one end being cut away to permit it to fit into the space between and engage both flanges on the other end, and means for holding said ends in contact with each other and the flanges.

2. The combination of a wheel with a guard therefor comprising a flat strip of metal bent to inclose the wheel and provided with flanges along its edges, one end having an offset and the flanges removed to permit it to overlap the other end and fit between its flanges, and a spindle for the wheel which als((l passes through the guard and unites its en s.

3. The combination of a wheel with a guard therefor comprising a flat strip of metal bent to inclose the wheel and provided with flanges along its edges, a hanger for the wheel also made of a flat strip of metal bent to inclose one side of the wheel, said strip having ends which fit into the spaces between the flanges of the guard on opposite sides of the wheel and engage the same to form anchors, .and a spindle which passes through the wheel, guard and hanger and is provided at its ends with means to unite the guard and hanger.

4. The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprising a flanged strip of metal through said cut away portions andis provided with enlarged ends that engage said flanges and form anchoring devices, and a means passing through said wheel, guard and hanger for unitmg the parts of said guard and hanger.

5. The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprising a strip of metal bent to inclose the wheel and having overlapping interlocked ends, a hanger therefor comprising a strip of metal bent to inclose one side of the wheel and having ends which interlock with the guard, and a means for holding the adjacent portions of the guard and hanger on each side of the wheel infirm contact.

6. The combination of a Wheel, a guard therefor comprising a fiat strip of metal which incloses the wheel and is provided on the other end and prevent relative sidewise movements'of said ends, a hanger for the wheel also made of a flat strip of metal which incloses one side of the wheel and has ends which engage and are anchored by the flanges on the guard, one of said ends also overlapping the joint at the ends of the flanges on theguard, a spindle for the wheel carried by the hanger, and means for uniting the guard and hanger on each side of the wheel. v

7 The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprising a flat strip of metal which incloses the wheel and is provided with out-turned flanges along its edges, the flanges at one end being removed to permit it to snugly fit into the space between the flanges on the other end and prevent relative sidewise movements of said ends, a hanger for the wheel also made of a flat strip of metal which incloses one side of the wheel and is provided with out-turned flanges along its edges and enlarged flat ends which fit into the spaces between the flanges on the guard, and a spindle for the wheel which is provided at each end with a shoulder and a head between which the guard and hanger are clamped.

8. The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprising a flat strip of metal bent to inclose the wheel and provided with flanges along its edges, the ends of said strip.

overlapping, the flanges on one end being cut away to permit it to fit into the space between the flanges on the other end, a hanger which incloses one side of the wheel and has heads having straight edges which engages one of the flanges of the guard, to prevent relative annular movement of the guard and hanger, and means for uniting the guard and heads.

flanges on the guard, reinforcing ribs for said offsets which are pressed out of the body of the han er and are located between the edges thereof, and means for uniting the guard and heads.

10. The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprising a strip of metal flanged along its edges which is bent to inclose the wheel and has overlapping ends, a hanger for the wheel comprising a U shaped strip of thin metal having flanged edges and anchoring heads at the ends of the legs of the U, each head being located between the flanges on the guard and being of a width corresponding to that of the hanger before the edge-flanges were formed, and means for uniting the guard and hanger and pivotally supporting the wheel.

'11. The combination of a wheel, a guard therefor comprisinga' strip of metal bent to inclose the wheel and having overlapping ends, a hanger therefor comprising a strip of metal bent to form a U which incloses one side of the wheel and. has ends which interlock with the guard, and a reinforcing piece located in the bend of the U which has an integral tenon that passes through the guard and is riveted thereto to prevent the guard from collapsing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of January, 1919.

CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP. 

